D-line review: Kaufusi, Bullard and Ogbah

March 26th, 2016 | Written by Rob Staton

Bronson Kaufusi (DE, BYU)
I watched BYU twice in 2015 but didn’t see the Fresno State game (see above). Yesterday I watched it for the first time and he basically took over the game. Granted it was a 52-10 beat down. Yet Kaufusi’s three sacks, TFL’s in the run game and a blocked kick just jumped off the screen.

It was similar to the type of performance we used to see from Margus Hunt at SMU. At 6-8 and 295lbs, Hunt was the #53 pick in 2013. Like Hunt, Kaufusi is also an older player entering the draft. He’ll be 25 as a rookie.

There are key differences between the two though — and this is why Kaufusi might end up having a superior pro career. For starters he’s more consistent on tape. Hunt flashed occasionally but watching Kaufusi — he’s more of a week-to-week impact player. He’s also a better athlete. Kaufusi ran an elite short shuttle at the combine at 4.25 seconds. He also had a 7.03 in the three-cone. He’s 6-6 and 285lbs.

Here’s the list of defensive linemen that performed better in the agility tests:

Bosa is 6-5 and 269lbs, Calhoun 6-4 and 251lbs and Lawson 6-2 and 259lbs. Kaufusi moves as well as the top edge rushers in this class despite being freakishly bigger. He’s basically as agile and quick as Calhoun despite a 34lbs weight difference.

J.J. Watt, for what it’s worth, was 6-5 and 290lbs at his combine and had a 4.21 in the short shuttle and a 6.88 in the three-cone. There’s a 0.04 difference between his forty time and Kaufusi’s. Ziggy Ansah had a 4.26 in the short shuttle and a 7.11 three cone (he also had an incredible 4.56 forty and a 1.62 split).

Let’s state the obvious — these are not bad comparisons.

The Seahawks love top-level athletic traits. They also like production (he has that) and grit (he’s a coaches son and plays that way). That said — I’m not convinced he’s anything more than an edge rusher. Unlike Watt, there isn’t any real evidence of him moving around the line and impacting plays. He just wasn’t used in that way. He has the frame to do it but might need to add a little more bulk. If Seattle’s desire is to find a good inside/out rusher — you’d be taking a chance that Kaufusi can make that adjustment.

Here’s something else to consider — in terms of sack production, here’s the top four in the NFL in 2015:

There are two types of great NFL rusher at the moment — smaller with elite quicks (Mack, Von Miller) and the super-athletic big men (Watt, Ansah). Physically Kaufusi compares well to the bigger, athletic guys.

The issues on tape are pretty obvious. Because of his height he struggles with leverage when he doesn’t stay low. He has a tendency to play high and when this happens he just doesn’t have an impact. There’s a bit of fire to his play and his effort is excellent but he doesn’t chew glass. He’s not necessarily a war daddy but he equally won’t back down.

You get the sense he got by on athleticism in college and he’s not technically the best pass rusher. There’s no real evidence of a plan in place — he doesn’t take three plays to set up a blocker and he doesn’t have a repertoire. At the next level, when his athleticism is less dominating, he’ll need to be more nuanced. His first priority needs to be to work on his hand placement.

That said it would be interesting to see how he’d fair playing next to Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Frank Clark. He’s not going to face the double teams he had in college and his agility is good enough to make teams pay 1v1 off the edge. In a draft class without many freaky athletes Kaufusi deserves the description. He could be an option in round two if the Seahawks go O-line at #26.

Jonathan Bullard (DE, Florida)
After talking about Bullard over the last few days, I went back and watched Florida’s games against Ole Miss and Alabama. While he is very capable of playing end and tackle and moving around the line — Bullard isn’t a splash play specialist. In the two games he didn’t have a major impact — he just played well. He perfectly read an option play to drop a running back for a big loss against Ole Miss and he had a clear up sack against Alabama. Jake Coker scrambled away from pressure in the backfield, tried to extend the play and ran into Bullard.

It was good to watch him again if only to remind myself what I thought during the season. Bullard is a high-effort, intense defensive lineman but you don’t watch the tape and see anything particularly special. When he lines up at end he wins shooting the B-gap and timing snap counts. There’s not much variation. Working inside he can barrel his way into the backfield but it’s forceful rather than quick/twitch. At the next level he isn’t likely to just be able to get after the B-gap in the same way — he’s not an edge rusher by any stretch of the imagination even when he lines up at DE and he might end up making a permanent switch inside. That’s fine — but are the Seahawks looking for a smaller interior rusher in round one who doesn’t feature in base (and therefore plays a smaller percentage of snaps)?

If the Seahawks want a stout, consistent DE who plays the run well and doesn’t get shoved around — Bullard will do that. He’s a good run defender at DE. He can set the edge and his ability to close is exceptional. When he sees the ball carrier in front he’ll wrap up and finish the tackle. He never misses a tackle — period. He also does a very good job staying disciplined and filling his gap — something the Seahawks cherish.

But he isn’t a special pass rusher. He has a nice athletic profile but is he an 8-12 sack guy like Cam Jordan? I’m not convinced he will be. The Seahawks might be content with a 5-7 sack defender — essentially replacing the lost production from 2015 that they had in 2013-14 with Clinton McDonald and Jordan Hill. The question is — will they see that as worthy of a first round pick?

As an individual with his competitive nature, the chip on his shoulder, the intensity, the discipline and the run defense — Bullard’s a Seahawk. But they also seem to like unique traits in round one with major upside. Bullard, with respect, might only ever be a stout, solid run defender who gets you a handful of sacks a season working inside. It’s possible he might be the type of player they’d happily take at #56 or round three. They might prefer someone with a greater upside in the first round.

Bullard is a really fun player to watch, a guy who is easy to like and he’s not a slouch athletically. He’s a former 5-star recruit and he did well at the combine. There’s a pretty good chance you’ll get a good player if you draft him. Is he capable of being a great player though? That’s what the Seahawks would have to consider if they wanted to take him at #26. He might not be special enough to warrant a first day pick.

Emmanuel Ogbah (DE, Oklahoma State)Here’s how a NFL area scout described Ogbah: “He’s stiff and upright so he has no counters as a rusher and then he doesn’t even play hard all the time. If you are going to be the hulk, then play hard all the time.”

I watched Ogbah vs Kansas State yesterday and this assessment is pretty much spot on. Cody Whitehair basically had his lunch money. Ogbah was happy to be blocked and probably thanked Whitehair for not being too mean. Time and time again the pair engaged, Whitehair contained Ogbah and finished the block. There was no counter, no physicality, nothing.

Oklahoma State adjusted and moved Ogbah to take on the right tackle. He got a sack and did a big boy pose. It’d would’ve been easier to stomach had he not received a wedgie earlier by a guy who will inevitably move to guard or center in the NFL.

His athletic profile is excellent but if Ogbah is going to succeed at the next level he needs to up the ante. He needs to play with more fire, he needs to work on counters and hand placement and he needs to show more effort. It’s tempting to look at a 13-sack season, a 1.5 split and a terrific forty yard dash for his size and get excited. It’s worth noting, however, that despite weighing 15lbs less than Kaufusi, Obgah’s agility testing led to a 4.50 short shuttle and a 7.26 three cone. Kaufusi, as we noted above, had a 4.21 and a 7.03 at 6-6 and 285lbs.

204 Responses to “D-line review: Kaufusi, Bullard and Ogbah”

This is a good and sobering analysis, Rob. Thank you for the closer look.

Frankly, I am not excited about any of these three. I think Kaufusi is tall and awkward, and I do not know if he makes the jump to JJ Watt type. Ogbah has flashes, but as you point out, the intensity is not there. Bullard is not a pass rusher, and spending a high pick on a base run stuffer seems to be a waste in a draft with plenty of those.

Watt is playing at a level where no DE in the history of the NFL will be a “JJ Watt type.” Only Reggie White stands in his way at the moment. 3 Defensive NFL MVPs and he’s still young… I wouldn’t put that type of expectations on anyone. I wouldn’t expect any #26 pick to be like Watt.

The Hawks do like “splash” in the first round if they aren’t drafting OL, but I wonder if settling for a good player in Bullard would tempt them… odds against it based on history. Still, if they believe in him, the odds of late first round players being decent are 50-50 anyways. You never know. They seem to do something out of the ordinary every year so I’m not going to be surprised if they go long-snapper in the first round this year.

Yeah, guys like Ogbah scare me. I like how Rob worded getting handled by Whitehair and then later getting a sack against someone else and thinking he’s good. That was funny.

Whitehair is ranked as the top-guard amongst some draft gurus, so it’s not like Ogbah was going up against some slouch. However, the motivational issues are worrisome, and that’s not something Seattle will ignore; especially for a 1st round prospect.

Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, JJ Watt….. all exceptional once in a generation type of talents. I think it is incredibly unfair to paint any NFL prospect with that label. Heck, if a guy comes in and has 6-8 sacks and 15-20 TFL and causes havoc in the backfield all year, I’d be happy.

I didn’t appreciate Bruce Smith that much, even tough I was a casual NFL fan back during the Bills heyday…. then I saw his plaque at the NFL HoF. Talk about a generational talent. Most likely, his records will never be broken or touched…. sack and productivity wise.

It is no wonder Seattle’s FO has a history of trading their late 1st round picks, because there just are not many locks at that spot in round one. All of the players that will probably be remaining have good things going for them, but they also have reasons for not being top-15 picks. Glass half-empty, or glass half-full, LOL.

I totally think they are trading back for value into the 2nd round unless something silly like Darren Lee falls into their lap. Nola just signed Robertson and Atlanta signed Uphaw. Most mocks have both of those teams taking backers. That would be a rad look with Wright/Wagner/Lee. Wagner and Lee in the Nickel sounds fast as hell

Very interesting. I would assume that Bullard would be used as a rotational DE and mostly on early downs to spell Bennett and Avril and that he and Bennett would provide the interior rush with a lighter Clark and Avril on the outside in passing downs. That makes scheme sense to me.
I will also readily admit that is the role I assumed Clark was perfect for, so his slimfast experience is puzzling.
I think it also makes sense if the offensive lineman they really want is there at 26 to “settle” later in the draft for an athletic, less versatile defensive end with a clear focus on rushing the passer. That is how Irvin was used as a rookie.
I’m excited that it looks like the first four picks can really upgrade weak areas if, and this is always a huge if, they hit on the right guys. I do think that those guys can be had.

Rob I know it is not a like for like comparison but I prefer Chris Jones upside to all 3 of these guys. After Rankins I think Jones has the best chance of having a significant impact on our defense and becoming an elite player.

I watched the Miss St game vs Missou last night to get a good feel for McGovern and the guy who popped all game was Jones. It was one of the best game tapes I have seen from a prospect all year. After watching it if Jones and McGovern are the choice in Rd#2 I take Jones all day.

I know he had the recent incident with the Drivers License but that seems minor and he plays hard on the tape I have watched.

If Rankins is gone in Rd #1 would you consider Chris Jones in Rd#2 instead of Kaufusi? Or how about Charles Tapper!

My guess is Jones goes to the Ravens in Rd2 he looks like an Ozzie Newsome pick to me.

Couldn’t agree more. I think Jones matches Rankings’ ability to get to the QB with more upside against the run. If he’s there in the second round the Hawks should race to the podium. Through a combo of a trade up and trade down, my dream scenario

Couldn’t agree more. I think Jones matches Rankings’ ability to get to the QB with more upside against the run. If he’s there in the second round the Hawks should race to the podium. Through a combo of a trade up and trade down, my dream scenario is to get Shon Coleman and Jones in the first 2 rounds. Probably wont’t happen 🙁

I watched the first half of that YouTube video and came away impressed with Jones but less than impressed w/CMcG. Am I the only who felt that way?

Relatedly, why is there no longer ANY speculation on this board re: Cody Whitehair. I believe Rob had him mocked to the Hawks earlier in the process, but now ppl’s focus seems to be exclusively McGovern. Glasgow, & maybe Garnett for Rd 2-3 picks. I undertand that McGovern might better fit Seattle’s athletic profile, but from what little I’ve seen, Whitehair seems to have the better tape.

The thing I like most about Jones is his ability to knife through the line to get into the backfield instantly. He flashes in the backfield with regularity, but does struggle to finish the play. We talk about RB’s getting ‘skinny’ through the hole. Jones gets ‘skinny’ shooting gaps into the backfield-impressively!

“(Jones) plays hard on the tape I have watched.” Trevor

Mostly agree. When plays are 10+ yards away from Jones he oftentimes goes half speed. Maybe I’m knit picking, but to me his motor is a question mark. Maybe it’s a conditioning issue, which wouldn’t be an issue in a DL rotation, or maybe he lacks passion. Like Nkemdiche, Jones has the talent to be great. Do they have the mindset and heart to dominate?

This is much appreciated, Rob. As Steele said, sobering.
It looks like they are all incomplete, although some of the issues seem fixable. The question then becomes, how long do We wait for them get fixed?
It does beg the question of whether anybody in this huge class of Defensive Linemen is worth what it would take to trade up for them. Rankins or Billings perhaps…? Would love your take on them, and how much they’d cost.

I don’t think Bullard’s worth SEA’s R1 pick, talent-, need- or impact-wise. But I have no doubt they like him. I’m not worried about his lack of splash plays because it’s not like he had a great supporting cast along the Gator DL. I think with his high motor and intense effort he could be very productive alongside Bennett, Avril and Clark.

His stock seems so similar to Mario Edwards. I can see any of BAL, SF, JAX or TBB taking him between 36-39. If SEA want him badly enough, and they might, I could see them trading 56 + 90 + 124 to move as high as 35 to get him.

At the same time I think Kaufusi could still be on the board at 56, and as I said previously, I’m good with him as well.

Agreed, with the key being worth SEA’s R1 pick. Think he’s worth it for other teams-ATL, ARI, DEN. There’s a lot to like about Bullard, but feel like his role is regulated to interior pass rusher his first 2 seasons. He’s not going to find much time at DE, with Avril, Bennett and Clark on the roster.

I want Ifedi at 26 all, and twice on Sunday. But what’s more likely is us getting cute again, trading back a few spots once or twice, and drafting Treadwell with our first pick. I’m just getting that vibe. Hope I’m wrong.

The more tape I watch, the more I am convinced that there will only be a handful of players available at #26 who would be fit/need/criteria/value matches. Kelly, Coleman, and Neal. Even there I think that Kelly and Coleman will be there in the high 40’s. But Neal is the only defensive player that I think would be ready to start and contribute. On the OL, other than Coleman or Kelly, I wait for Westerman/Whitehair or McGovern in the 2nd. We need guys who will be solid starters and contributing week 1. No more huge swings on guys who end up liabilities or worse than that, can’t make it on the field. After the combine, everything comes out in the wash and we are seeing the reality of these players actual ability. And it can be sobering. I hope we hit, because the options are limited

He would have an entirely new position. Essentially what AZ did for Buchannon. You change the game plan for him and make the best use of his talents. Kind of a way just to get playmakers on the field to disrupt; guys that have to be accounted for at all times. Mike Morgan or Cassius Marsh wouldn’t offer that at SAM all the time, whereas a guy like Neal could give an offense fits.

It wouldn’t necessarily be about size. Neal can hold his own in the box. Deone Buchannon can shove his nose into the fray and stick people. Kam would be better as the ‘Air Traffic Controller’ in the back half where he can do what he has always down. It would be up to Pete and Kris Richard to determine where Neal could be the most advantageous and be in the best position to make plays. It could be opposite KJ or even on the same side, maybe he occupies the middle 3rd while Wagner and KJ cover the flat and the wheel. Who knows? The way to use him would be up to the coaching staff. But AZ has made great use of Buchannon in their defense- and our coaches are much better than anything in AZ. We should be able to incorporate him into our scheme without a problem

That’s a cool thought to entertain with the 3 safety look. I really like what Arizona does with their back 5. Seattle is pretty traditional with what they do on defense from my understanding where Arizona relies on blitzing and multiple looks. I honestly think if your biggest needs in the draft are upgrades to the trenches and maybe getting an impact offensive player the team is in good shape. I have been honestly thinking what big moves they can make because they always leave the draft with what they need for competition to keep their team a contender and most of thier cuts are picked up by other teams. Trade up for Darren Lee or trade back into the 2nd and have Conor Mcovern be your first pick of the draft so it looks like you are wanting upgrade oline as the first priority and gain value from another 3/4 round pick. They are going to own this draft

I love Neal but has anyone watched Kevin Byard, the Middle Tenn State safety? An absolute monster. 5-11, 216, 33.5in arms, and 19 INTs in 48 games. Seahawks love ball skills so he’s one to keep an eye on. Not a blazer but is a fearless tackler and always around the play, even balling out against Alabama. I think he’ll last until the fourth but that gap between our 4th and 5th round picks is a killer.

I had a few comments already about my feelings regarding the OL and still did not bang the table for a DL pick at 26. The reason is just what you so clearly show above. After Rankins, you see a long deep list of DE/DT prospects but none of them clearly merits a first round pick. While some may indeed turn into great players, they do not show it right now.

I believe that if they will see a roll player, even a 3rd down rush specialist, or a Base D DT that they believe can have an impact they will pick him. They do not value a 1st round pick too much to feel it’s not worth the high pick.

I just do not see the that guy who will likely make that impact at 26.

The only reason to go D with the first pick is that we have a great defense already and a player that could impact that defense positively will boost it into the DEN at SB50 or the Seahawks D in SB48 level.

I also believed that the guy that will impact the Seahawks D in 2016 in that role was already on the roster – Frank Clark. In almost all aspects he gives all the above guys a run for their money and come on top smiling. He played edge exclusively on college and needed a year to get his inside play up to NFL level. There was every reason to believe that in 2016, Clark would do a better job at that role than any of guys on your list. When we see his pictures losing weight to play edge exclusively I begin to wonder how much priority they assign to that role. They have just remove thier best potential candidate for it to play another role.

They may still see a player that can have this impact for them even in a limited role but so far i have not found anybody in this draft that at 26 will be a much better hope for impact than much later picks like Tapper, Nassib etc.

There is not enough “sure” talent/upside difference to justify that first pick even if you value it as highly as picking OL. I fail to spot a clear cut positive impact DL player in the whole group.

Honestly there is no point in selecting d line in round 1 unless it’s a guy capable of 8+ sacks a year, you could easily pick up someone like Willie Henry Adolphus Washington or Javon Hargrave and have them be a pro bowl d tackle for years to come. I used to be on the side of spending on the d line but those 3 have really just jumped off the screen to me

That guy should add 8+ sacks a year. They do not have be his sacks. If he can just push the pocket back and help Clark, Avril and Bennett get more sacks against a QB with no pocket to climb into, i’ll be just happy with the result.

I meant more of an edge rusher who can add 8+. I completely agree I think the 3 I mentioned in the previous comment, especially henry, could do just that so I still think the Hawks should spend round 1 on an old linemen and maybe even round 2 if needed

Since we all seem to be jumping off the Bullard bandwagon..let me make a pitch for Derrick Henry at #26..

1) he seems to be the consensus 2nd best player at his position..which also happens to be a highly valued position for the Hawks..which is hard to find late in the first round

2) we are underinvested at RB..with our #1 guy being a former UDFA with a half season of experience who is now trying to come back from a serious leg injury (not that I dont love T Rawls)

3) Rb is the type of position that you can draft first round..and then have the luxury of either integrating them into the offense slowly (ideal situation)..or just making them the bell-cow if he turns out to be Beast Mode 2

If #26 is determined to be too high for Henry..then trade back into the early second (getting maybe a late third/early fourth)..if somebody then beats you to Henry..we’ll still have a good pick amongst our DL/OL options we’ve been discussing here (without the first round salary/expectations)..

Elliott is the only RB I would even consider in the first. With the league moving away from making large investments in RB, I think there might be some value in zigging while others zag. That said, Rawls was arguably the most efficient back in the league when healthy & given opportunities, so I just don’t see a big need to try to upgrade or provide additional depth at that position. If the Hawks were to make a luxury pick in Rd. 1, I’d much prefer it be either Keanu Neal, DLee if he somehow dropped or even Treadwell.

could you expand on that thought about “not the way the Hawks draft rb’s”…they did use a second on C Michael a couple years ago..and the position hasn’t really been a priority on draft day with Marshawn around..but that obviously has changed..

fd: I’m not 100% sold on the idea..but just seems like something the Hawks would do on draft day when everyone has them going a different direction

We don’t do bandwagons on this blog. We don’t petition for players to be drafted. We discuss guys the Seahawks might take and dig deep into what they offer. He could be a guy they really like. Today was a deeper look at what he is.

I’m 100% convinced it will be Henry at 26 for us. As soon as PC said Rawls and Michael were our 1 2 punch I knew he was talking rubbish. This very blog shows how average the options in the trenches are. You could make reasoned arguments for players that will likely drop into day 3. I think PC and JS see this to and they will swing for the fence in Round 1.

Stop messing around with Harvin wannabes go get the guy that’s nearest to beast mode number 2. Rawls and Henry makes so much sense as they will take the pressure of each other.

I’ve already said on Seahawks.net that I honestly think it’s a done deal. Henry will be our first pick.

Hassan Ridgeway is gaining hype… Being talked about by scouts as an ‘every down lineman’… I personally doubt that Ridgeway goes in the first round but should we consider him for the seahawks in the second or third? Could he be Mebane’s replacement?

Ridgeway has good natural talent, strength, and size, and could be a solid interior pass rusher, but he’s had questions about his conditioning and problems with several minor injuries, so I’m not sure if he’s every-down lineman material unless he can improve his stamina. If the Seahawks like him, I’d hope they’d wait until the 3rd round (at least).

Willie Henry or Sheldon Day look like two of the best interior D-linemen in the late round 3 range.

I like both. If I had my choice, I’d personally go with Bullard, just think he plays with more of an edge, and would probably offer more immediate impact inside. Kaufusi, I really like a lot though, might even have more upside. I wouldn’t rule out him entirely as someone who could kick inside, just might take him a lot longer to transition, if they ask him to do that.

Both Kaufusi and Bullard offer separate areas of strength for that Mike Bennett DE/DT role. Kaufusi is better on the 1st and 2nd down part of it because he’s sufficiently big and stout vs the run at base end, and provides a good pass rush there.

Bullard is better on the DT 3rd down part, because for a DT, he offers a decent pass rush (but no pass rush at all from base end).

Personally, I would have a slight preference for Kaufusi because teams have had too much success shredding the defense through the air on 1st and 2nd down, especially the better teams in the playoffs.

Greg is right. I like those prospects you listed, but somewhere in the first couple of rounds, PC/JS need t take an OL. Connor McGovern seems like a good match. I would even add some weight on him and have him compete for LG. He already has the core strength to play there.

“He’s a good run defender at DE. He can set the edge and his ability to close is exceptional. When he sees the ball carrier in front he’ll wrap up and finish the tackle. He never misses a tackle — period.”

That sounds like a comp of what Courtney Upshaw currently is. Baltimore let him walk and Atlanta signed him to a one year deal.

None of the three sound that enticing. Either go OL at 26, take a super special player at 26, or trade out of the 1st and get another 2nd and 3rd/4th?. With two R2 picks we could grab the O-Lineman we want and the D-lineman we want, then with the potential of three R3 picks? Wowza. RB, OL, OL? Maybe WR or LB?

My thinking is: If a drafted D-linemen plays solid for 4 years we are saying “good pick, he played solid, good for him” but if an O-linemen plays solid for 4 years we are saying “Omg what a great pick, he wasn’t amazing but the solid play from a player at his position in his rookie deal…game changer.”

If the OL we take at 26 can become a quality O-linemen on our line (RT like Ifedi or Coleman, C like Kelly) and hold his own, along with Gilliam and Glow doing that at their positions (LT, RG), and then a OL pick or two later in the draft competing and potentially earning the starting jobs from Justin Britt (Dahl), from Webb (Ifedi, Coleman, etc) and Patrick Lewis (Kelly, McGovern or Dahl).

O-linemen play 100% of the offensive snaps. Their impact is huge on the offense and the QB’s health. We can just draft interior to replace Britt and Lewis, relying on inexperienced Gilliam (who I like) and the questionable play of Webb at RT…or we can use that 1st on a RT that could possibly start and lock that position down with solid play for the next 4 years.

When we won our Championship we had Okung-Carp-Unger-Sweezy-Breno. A pretty solid OL, along with a historically great defense.

Now we have a potentially awful OL, and our D is just fine, our DL has elite talent (MikeB) on it, high level talent (Avril), and potential high level talent (Clark & Hill). Our DL is clearly in a better position than our OL, and our DL doesn’t prevent our QB from getting blown up.

And we complained about our oline then. The Dline is getting long in the tooth and v we need to I jet some youth. You really can’t go wrong with whatever pick you take but I believe it’s easier to win a Super Bowl with a weaker oline than it is with a Dline that doesn’t get consistent pressure.

I would prefer they pass on all three of these guys, and take the best offensive lineman available. I really don’t see them coming out of this draft with potential o-line starters unless they use the top 3 rounds for it. What i don’t want is for them to go BPA, screw around too much, and lose out on the o-linemen.

As for d-line, what is the priority? A Mebane replacement, the elusive DT pass rusher or the Bennett type? The Mebane type is the easiest to find later in the draft.

I think they’re looking for a Bennett type. I think they might feel like Siliga can do the Mebane job. What they might be looking for is someone who can play a high percentage of snaps (to justify an early pick) but ultimately rush from the inside on the key downs. They aren’t going to use a 285lbs guy in base at DT so if they want someone who can rush inside on third down and still start a lot of the time in base — he has to have that flexibility.

There just aren’t many who can do it. Bullard, Rankins two that can but the issues are noted in this piece on Bullard. Rankins likely won’t be there. So we’re left wondering if guys like Kaufusi can do it or going for a totally different type of defender like Kyler Fackrell.

Rob – I love the guys who move from the outside-in for Seattle (Bennett/Bullard types), but any new draft picks in this mold will not play a high percentage of snaps. The 4-3 base DE snaps are petty much locked up for at least 2 years with Bennett, Avril and Clark all being effective run defenders at DE.

I think it’s really unlikely that Bennett plays inside at 3T on run downs. I’d bet he only plays inside on nickel downs, like he has before.. He’s simply too small and history has taught us that the Hawks like the big bodies to plug the gaps in the middle in their base defense. They may draft an outside-in type on day 2, but I’d wager that they also draft a run stuffing 1/3Tech in round 3 or 4 in that case

I’m all for trading down, getting 2 2nd rounders, one on Coleman and one on Braxton Miller (PCJS love athletes – I think Miller could do what Ervin can do but eventually better) and then tapping into the deep (but not necessarily spectacular DT pool after that), G/C and finishing up with a couple of RBs (one grinder, one 3rd down).

I understand the desire to keep Gilliam at RT for continuity and for him to gain more experience, but from an athletic profile he’s a Seahawk LT. For RT they’ve shown they want a huge mauling road grader. Not coincidentally, it’s the same profile as their LG. I think the Seahawks will be the strongest if Gilliam can lock down the LT job.

One thing I wonder about with Bullard, considering his style of play, showing up stout against the run, and the ability to bull rush inside, I wonder if Seattle would in fact see him almost exclusively as an interior DL, maybe starting his first year rotating in on the nickel D, maybe occasionally spelling Bennett in the base 5 tech, but in a year or so down the line, maybe adding 10 or 15 lbs, becoming their base 3 tech. Bullard has been pretty outward saying his preference is to play at that spot in the NFL, as quoted in this article.

It would be a shift from what Pete has preferred size wise for his base down 3 tech, but maybe they feel Jonathan is special enough in gap integrity, run support, playing with an edge, playing strong, 10 more pounds of good weight would make him a 3 down player. Tony McDaniel was long, but he only played around 300lbs, and he had a nasty brawler way about him. I wonder what they are interested in and covet is Bullard’s similar edgy style, but maybe more consistency and upside. IDK, before RW3, Pete preferred tall drop back passers.

I’m going to go against the grain and say I still like Bullard at #26. I certainly wouldn’t mind if they took a guy like Ifedi with the pick, though. He wasn’t and elite pass rusher in college, but if he develops more moves he could be what we need from an interior pass rush perspective. He seems to have the tools and football IQ. And he’s an excellent run stopper. He would make a good relief player for Bennett and Avril on base downs before sliding inside on passing downs.

If they like Bullard at 26, that means they see something in him that’s special, so for that reason, I’d be happy with the pick. It’s really tough to see them not go OL at 26 given the obvious need, though, but if they don’t, it’s gotta be a pass rusher, unless they really pull the rug out.

I heard Mike Sando asked this week on 710 which direction he thinks the Seahawks might go at 26, and from his view, he kinda surprisingly said even though the OL is the biggest concern, he thinks that if they see another pass rusher sitting there at 26, they could easily go there to get the DL back to where it was in 2013. So, we’ll see. Is Bullard enough of that kinda guy to take at 26? Maybe. His floor looks good, but it’s kinda tough to see his ceiling. I know for me, I like his floor, and I think he’ll probably get better at the next level.

C-Dog, this goes to what I was mentioning above. About the idea of replacing some of Mebane’s duties. If Bullard bulks up, and he’s really good against the run, it makes sense. That said, is that worth #26? In this draft?

Yeah, that’s the big question. I wouldn’t be terribly disappointed, but they gotta come away with some serious talent for the OL. Like Rob puts it, would they think he’s special enough at 26? Apparently, they think Rankins is. Could Bullard be the next best thing in their view? I’m sure they dig his floor a lot, but how do they view his ceiling? Maybe they go OL at 26, and trade up in R2 for Bullard?

Really, at this stage, I’m just glad they are showing this kinda interest in the guy, and that they want to address the lines on both sides of the ball.

Interesting measurables – 6’6 285 with 34.5 inch arms, and yet his best test (by percentile) is in the 3-cone, a test typically performed poorly by other large humans. By comparison his testing in the broad jump and vertical were poor (28% and 15% respectively).

J.J. is a freak. He posseses elite change of direction and agility skills. On top of that he’s explosive. He bests Kaufusi in the vertical jump by 7″ and 9″ in the broad jump.

All in all I agree with your assessment Rob. I don’t think Kaufusi can play inside on passing downs. You pointed out his height – he has a leverage problem, but he also lacks the explosive ability to be that disruptive 1-gap guy. Don’t get me wrong, Kaufusi could be a nice player off the edge, but he’ll win differently than a Bruce Irvin type. Kaufusi appears to win with hand fighting and agility. It doesn’t hurt that he’s 285 lbs – he’s just a hand full for offensive tackles.

Since the DL sounds like such a crapshoot – do any of you see a sure thing at 26? For example, the more I read, the more I think we should take Kelly C Alabama at 26. He sounds like he is the best by far at his position, it is a position of need, he could start day 1, and he’s the only one who looks like he might turn into a pro bowl caliber player. Thoughts? Go Hawks!

Pretty safe bet, but will any of them make round 3? Dahl and McGovern are the 2 guys that look like they will be “for sure” available to Seattle in the second round. Dahl most likely will be available in the 3rd as well.

Even if there are “shelves”, they wouldn’t say anything. Lying season indeed. I think we can expect their board to be unusual, their actions unpredictable and flexible (baffling). They might go completely against what we on the outside think.

Actually he said there are shelves of talent, without large drop offs – shelves, not cliffs.

Quote from the Reddit article:
“Looks like a good OL draft. There are different shelves of players all the way through the draft, this year there doesn’t seem to be as many drop offs at OL. Looks like a good group.”

“Poole was injured so he was on the practice squad, didn’t get a real good look at him. He has rededicated himself after the injury, interesting to see how he does. Sokoli has a very good upside, is very quick, is a very good athlete, he just needs the reps. He just really needs to play a lot. Glow started against AZ and had a great game, looked really good in that game. Sure, he’d be a candidate to start at RG today.”

Not trying to put words in Rob’s words, but, I don’t think he’s disliking Bullard or taking him off his board.

Rather, he’s showing and explaining to us that ‘hey, this is what Bullard is. Is he good enough for Seattle to take in round one? Do they trade back into the Mario Edwards, jr. territory? Or do they see him as a 2nd rounder?’

What he is special at is heart, grit, savvy, technique. Playing with a healthy chip on his shoulder.

IDK if we have UFC fans here at SDB, assuming there is, but he reminds me of Daniel Cormier.Relentess, the way he sets guys up, uses their leverage against them. And while he isn’t a ‘special athlete,’ I see a different kind of D-lineman that enter the NFL.

Is his value right for where they are picking and can they afford to miss out on grabbing him in the 2nd…. the essence of their dilemma. I don’t see him as game changing or earth tilting…. more a 2nd rounder, if he happened to be there are the pick.. grab him in 2nd round, otherwise, move on to other tasty players.

Saturday’s surprise, though, was the state of Michigan’s hidden secret. Ferris State defensive tackle/defensive end Justin Zimmer walked in and put on a show. At nearly 6-foot-3 and 303 pounds, Zimmer ran a 4.89 in the 40-yard dash, had a 33-inch vertical and excelled at each of the position movement drills during the day. It was clear that he was a notch or three above all other defensive lineman candidates.

Later in the day, I heard some buzz that Zimmer wanted to break the Combine bench press record. He didn’t get an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine, but had that happened, he would’ve had a chance. When I put “Justin Zimmer bench press” into my search engine, a YouTube video popped up of Zimmer completing 46 reps of 225 a couple of years ago (the record is 51). Not invited to the Combine and with no potential Pro Day on the horizon, Zimmer made a key decision in his draft preparation.

“I’m training with Michael Johnson (not the Bengals MJ, gold medal sprinter MJ) in McKinney, Texas, so that’s how I got down here to Houston.”

But, can he play? I raced back to my office at lunch to find some tape on Zimmer and within just three plays, it was evident that he was capable of being the rare Regional Combine participant that gets drafted. In 2015, Texas Southern University cornerback Tray Walker was drafted in the fourth round, due in large part to his Regional Combine performance in Miami.

The next step is just getting Zimmer a Pro Day to showcase his skills even further.

“I don’t know if I’ll have one. Ferris State doesn’t have an indoor facility,” Zimmer said.

Luckily, the Houston Regional Combine allowed for his introduction to the NFL world at large.

Can I put in a request for some Javon Hargrave analysis from Rob or other knowledgable posters? I have seen his name bandied about frequently, and given the dearth of interior rushers, I was curious to know who else is out there in the early-middle round areas.

Hargrave is an interesting case since he played against inferior competition in college. However he did what a high-level prospect is supposed to do – absolutely dominated. From the tape I’ve seen, he lives in the opponents’ backfield more than any DT in this class. Again, he should be crushing the small-school kids, but the traits he showed on tape are really intriguing (especially after seeing his combine numbers).

He has insane burst for his size. His 40 & 10 at 4.93 and 1.69 are ridiculous at 310 pounds. You see it on tape – he’s very quick off the snap, and just looks like a round ball of explosive power. On top of that, he is actually more advanced as a pass rusher than most of the DTs in this class. He lacks length, but his combination of balance, hip flexibility, and especially his hand use make him look like a natural pass rushing from the inside. He lacks discipline in the run game from what I’ve seen, although he was still dominant in that regard in college given how superior he was as an athlete.

From all accounts, he was the best player during Shrine week and was very impressive at the Senior Bowl. I hesitate to put a first round grade on him given his lack of length, but more so because I’m not confident enough as an evaluator to say his dominance will translate to the NFL level. That said, I think he has pro bowl potential as an interior rusher, and would be thrilled if the Hawks drafted him on day 2.

I agree JT. The only possible knock on him could be arm length but he has everything else you could want and is 2nd best penetrating 3 tech in the draft after Rankins IMO. I would be ecstatic if the Hawks go OL in round #1 and then get either Javon Hargraves, Chris Jones or Willie Henry in Rd 2-3.

For me Bullard has the highest floor of the three. He could be an impact rookie if given the reps, but there are other DT options later in the draft that would rather target.

I would easily take Ogbah over Bullard and Kaufusi. I had a completely different take on Ogbah’s performance going against Whitehair, but I have watched a couple other games where Ogbah’s play was uninspiring. He easily has the highest ceiling of these three players.

“The prospects for second-round picks have been a bit better. There have been as many players with a great rookie season as those with a terrible one, with most players playing close to average. When it comes to first-round tackles not drafted in the Top 10, the results are similar to second round tackles. The median was close to zero.”

In other words, picking an OT at 26 is a 50/50 bang/bust in his rookie year. Picking an OT in the 2nd round gives you the same bang/bust ratio.

To those who fear that not picking OT at 26 is a disaster – PFF claims it’s not the end of the world.

I think this is another example of why PFF is just awful. How is any of this relative to the 2016 class? What if this is the year where five all pro offensive tackles go in round one? You can’t base anything off draft history, you have to judge players as individuals every year.

I would love to hear everyone’s favorite 3 prospects rated Rounds #4 or later since this is where PC/JS have shined and built the core of this team.

My 3 favorite not named Justin Zimmer who has already been covered are the following #1 David Oneymata, (DL Manitoba) #2 Jatavius Brown (LB Akron) #3 Tyrone Holmes (Edge Montana)

#1 David Oneymata – (DL University of Manitoba Canada) This guy really should be getting more buzz and is an amazing story. He came to Canada from Laos Nigeria in 2011 and have never played football before. His fist game was in 2013 so he has been playing football for 3 years at the Canadian University level. This year he was the top defensive lineman in the league. I will however tell you that there are no Athletic Scholarships in Canada so he level of football would be equivalent to Division 3 in the States. He showed enough talent however to get an invite to the East /West Shrine game who take 2 Canadian kids each year.

At the Shrine Bowl week of practice he excelled in his first time against higher level competition. Here is what some of the national analysts had to say.

NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah says Manitoba DT David Onyemata could vault up draft boards after his Shrine Game performance. “Onyemata garnered a lot of attention for his play this week,” Jeremiah wrote. “He has a big frame and he has some shock in his hands. We’ve seen Canadian players (Akiem Hicks) vault up draft boards because of their performance at this game. He could be the next one.” The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder played both inside and outside at the Shrine Game, acquitting himself well at both spots. Mike Mayock had this to say after taking in the Nigerian-born prospect: “He’s got a big-time body… (but) he has no idea what he’s doing yet, but he’s got size and he’s got movement skills. He’s very raw, but he’s got an ability to turn into something. A few years ago, Akiem Hicks from Canada was in this game and became a third-round pick. I’m not saying (Onyemata) is a third-round pick, but he’s got talent and movement skills, and some team is going to want to develop.

Rob Rang of Mcok Draft 3000 Fame noted that Manitoba DT David Onyemata “flash[ed] an exciting combination of agility, technique and explosiveness” in Saturday’s East-West Shrine Game.
Rang was specifically impressed by a big hit Onyemata landed on Michigan QB Jake Rudock “after swimming through Memphis left tackle Fallin Taylor in the fourth quarter.” The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder also impressed the analyst by his ability to play at defensive end, even though he’s more natural on the inside. Onyemata hails from Canada and is an extremely raw player, but that in and of itself isn’t necessarily a drawback if a next-level coaching staff believes they can free the diamond from the rough.

There were 18 NFL teams at his pro day in Manitoba. I hope the Hawks were one of them.

I am not sure how to calculate SQARQ or SLA but that wounds pretty good to me. He basically has all the natural physical tools you could want in a penetrating DT prospect and I like the Hicks comparison.

I am a Canadian so I am biased but I hope we draft another Canuk via Nigeria to join Willson and Ryan as I think he could even up being special after a year or two under the tutelage of Bennett, Averil etc.

He is a very well spoken and humble kid with a great background story that I am sure the hawks will love. Think about it in 5 years he has gone from being a teen age kid in Nigeria who have never picked up a football just trying to get to Canada to go to university and better his life to being an NFL prospect represented by the same agent as Tom Brady.

I thought he might be a 7th round pick or UDFA during the year but the hype is building and I think if they want him would likely have to take him in the 4th or 5th round. Still well worth it IMO.

Here are a couple of articles from here in Canada about him for anyone interested.

This kid goes hard! FCS defensive MVP. Amazing production. He’s the kind of guy, every NFL wants in a rotational/backup DE. Maybe not him specifically, but his motor, hand use, and 2nd effort will be coveted.

I posted a link with some video of his pro day below. Hard to finds tape on Canadian University F-Ball but I am going to see what I can do as I have a friend who works and the University of Manitoba Phys Ed Dept and he said he should be able to get some. There is always the East West Shrine Game as well.

I would love to hear everyone’s favorite 3 prospects rated Rounds #4 or later since this is where PC/JS have shined and built the core of this team.

My 3 favorite not named Justin Zimmer who has already been covered are the following #1 David Oneymata, (DL Manitoba) #2 Jatavius Brown (LB Akron) #3 Tyrone Holmes (Edge Montana)

#1 David Oneymata – (DL University of Manitoba Canada) This guy really should be getting more buzz and is an amazing story. He came to Canada from Laos Nigeria in 2011 and have never played football before. His fist game was in 2013 so he has been playing football for 3 years at the Canadian University level. This year he was the top defensive lineman in the league. I will however tell you that there are no Athletic Scholarships in Canada so he level of football would be equivalent to Division 3 in the States. He showed enough talent however to get an invite to the East /West Shrine game who take 2 Canadian kids each year.

At the Shrine Bowl week of practice he excelled in his first time against higher level competition. Here is what some of the national analysts had to say.

NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah says Manitoba DT David Onyemata could vault up draft boards after his Shrine Game performance. “Onyemata garnered a lot of attention for his play this week,” Jeremiah wrote. “He has a big frame and he has some shock in his hands. We’ve seen Canadian players (Akiem Hicks) vault up draft boards because of their performance at this game. He could be the next one.” The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder played both inside and outside at the Shrine Game, acquitting himself well at both spots. Mike Mayock had this to say after taking in the Nigerian-born prospect: “He’s got a big-time body… (but) he has no idea what he’s doing yet, but he’s got size and he’s got movement skills. He’s very raw, but he’s got an ability to turn into something. A few years ago, Akiem Hicks from Canada was in this game and became a third-round pick. I’m not saying (Onyemata) is a third-round pick, but he’s got talent and movement skills, and some team is going to want to develop.

Rob Rang of Mcok Draft 3000 Fame noted that Manitoba DT David Onyemata “flash[ed] an exciting combination of agility, technique and explosiveness” in Saturday’s East-West Shrine Game.
Rang was specifically impressed by a big hit Onyemata landed on Michigan QB Jake Rudock “after swimming through Memphis left tackle Fallin Taylor in the fourth quarter.” The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder also impressed the analyst by his ability to play at defensive end, even though he’s more natural on the inside. Onyemata hails from Canada and is an extremely raw player, but that in and of itself isn’t necessarily a drawback if a next-level coaching staff believes they can free the diamond from the rough.

There were 18 NFL teams at his pro day in Manitoba. I hope the Hawks were one of them.

I am not sure how to calculate SQARQ or SLA but that wounds pretty good to me. He basically has all the natural physical tools you could want in a penetrating DT prospect and I like the Hicks comparison.

I am a Canadian so I am biased but I hope we draft another Canuk via Nigeria to join Willson and Ryan as I think he could even up being special after a year or two under the tutelage of Bennett, Averil etc.

He is a very well spoken and humble kid with a great background story that I am sure the hawks will love. Think about it in 5 years he has gone from being a teen age kid in Nigeria who have never picked up a football just trying to get to Canada to go to university and better his life to being an NFL prospect represented by the same agent as Tom Brady.

I thought he might be a 7th round pick or UDFA during the year but the hype is building and I think if they want him would likely have to take him in the 4th or 5th round. Still well worth it IMO.

I will do a little write up on Jatavius Brown and Holmes later today for anyone interested in checking them out

I can’t trust any of those defensive linemen as a first round pick. I don’t even see Kaufusi as another higher than a late second, early third at best. Everyone keeps talking about Ifedi, but I can’t shake the feeling that someone will take him higher than 26. His athletic numbers are great. He will surely catch someone else’s eye. I really do feel comfortable about him at that spot. I just hope that he’s still around. The talk about us not valuing a tackle should be laughable. We still need to find youth and upside at those spots.

Same feeling: Ifedi goes before 26. Bold move to take his athleticism/upside over safer picks. If a team has a tackle, is he worth drafting as a guard? If you need a tackle, are you confident he can stick there? Hawks are in a unique situation, able to use Ifedi at LG and/or RT.

It will be interesting to see what the Colts do: If they pass on Decker, he may slide to 26. Ifedi or Decker? Just say ‘no’ to Spriggs.

Ugh. Rob you are killing me here! Every post has me flip flopping. It all seems to boil down to how the ‘Hawks assess their offensive tackle position. Want a tackle? Then Rd 1 it is. If not then you have some options.

I watched some film on Bullard and I love the up the gut pressure he provides. The thought of Avril-Bennett-Bullard-Clark front four on passing downs has me foaming at the mouth.

So for now, at least until you make the next post when I will most likely change my mind yet again I’m going with the following.

Feeney just had sports hernia surgery a week or two ago, IIRC. I wouldn’t want to take him before the fifth round, all things considered. That said, your 4 rounder is my ideal hope for the draft (at least for this week, I’m sure I’ll change my mind by next Sunday). I wouldn’t even mind taking Dahl in the 3rd.

Just a thought, but would SEA consider drafting Bullard to bulk him up and play him inside mostly? Kind of what they started to do with Clark, but then decided (for whatever reasons) to keep him on the edge.

Bullard and Clark are not dissimilar. Clark is the more explosive athlete, but Bullard is more consistent on the field, especially vs the run. And he already has about 20lbs on Clark. I could see them sliding Rubin to 1T and letting Bullard have a go at being their 3T.

Avril-Bullard-Rubin-Bennett in base, Avril-Bullard-Bennett-Clark in NASCAR.

Could be good. But is Bullard a better run defender from the inside or on the rdge? It’s tough because if you put him on the edge on run downs ( where he is arguably better) then Bennett doesn’t play very much from the edge.

One guy no one seems to be talking about but I think could be a real wild card in this draft is Cardele Jones.

As we know he is a little immature and seems like he lost focus and he did not handle the success of his National Championship run very well then lost his starting spot at Ohio St. (which I think was a mistake by Urban Myer).

All that being said I think he is every bit as talented as the top rated QB Carson Wentz. He has an amazing arm and watching him at the Ohio St. pro day he certainly looked the part of 1st round QB.

If Wentz, Goff and Lynch all go in the top 15 as expected then I think teams like Denver who need a QB will be stuck with Connor Cook as the consensus next best QB and I just don’t see it. I would take Jones over Cook any day.

My point is if we want to trade back it might be with a team looking to get a young QB and realizes they have to move up ahead of Den and perhaps Ariz to get one. SD,Dal and Phil could all use a young QB and might be trade back options early in the 2nd round.

My prediction is despite the mid round grade Cardelle Jones is the 4th QB off the board and will not get past #35.

Having said that, I’m sorry, but Cardale Jones is terrible. The only thing, to my eyes, he has going for him is a very strong arm. His accuracy is downright awful, and his athleticism is overrated, IMHO. Very raw; he will need YEARS of solid coaching. At this point he’s more of just a thrower than an all-round QB.

But I do agree with you that trading down is a viable option if teams are desperate to move up to 26. I think the guys we’ve mentioned at 26 would be available in early 2nd round.

Jones isn’t terrible. He actually has the best arm in this class. Never lost a game for Ohio St, but it’s about between the ears with him. Is he a leader? And yes, you need a leader at the QB position,

After going back and watching Wentz, I think he has bust written all over him.

Glad to finally have a thread about qbs. I agree with trevor about Cardale. Seems like every year a strong arm guy like mettenberger gets taken way too high. The easy comp for Jones would be Jameis Winston, but clearly he’s not the same leader under the hood. I think Mettenberger is probably a good comp. Just dont think anyone will ever give Jones the chance to prove what he isn’t.

On Wentz i like his mobility and field awareness, but his accuracy and pocket presence leave much to be desired.

On that note i think he is the number one qb in this class. Goff has better awareness in the pocket but he seems awkward and indecisive with ths ball. Longer release than the other 2 qbs. He seems kind of shy. Not in the reserved Mariota kind of way. Like hes a blusher. Hell get rattled. I dont think hes the guy. I dont know how anyone could.

I disagree I think he is a good qb but has cam newton Colin kaepnerick problems between his ears. I think he has the talent to be a very good but probably never truly an elite passer. (Cam newton is an elite player I don’t think he is an elite passer) so if he were there and I were Denver I would select him in round 2. He is better than mark Sanchez who just looks scared in the pocket and at the very least he could provide competition. He is just a boom or bust potential player in the right situation be could thrive.

There a limited 31 of true 1st round talents in this draft and if Rankins is gone then I think a trade down to the early 2nd round would be the perfect situation. Then a trade up into the mid 2nd with the added draft capital. Here is an option to consider.

-Trade back from #26 to # 34 Dallas (They trade up to get Paxton Lynch or Cardelle Jones for a 3rd rounder #67 )
-Trade up from #56 to #47 NO (They have multiple needs and are willing to trade back for our 3rd round pick #90

Rd2 #34 Shon Coleman (OT, Auburn)- Has been my favorite since Rob first hi lighted him. Ideal RT in our system. Long, athletic, tough and a fighter. Allows us to move Webb to guard and really solidify the whole OL.

Rd2 #47 Chris Jones (DT, Miss St.) – Incredible upside to be an elite 3 down DT and would play a role similar to Clinton Mcdonald from day #1

On Kaufusi “I’m not convinced he’s anything more than an edge rusher.” Rob

That’s where I’m at with Kaufusi too. On his pro day he went through some LB coverage drills along with DE. It could be what scouts asked of him or it could show what he wants to be at the next level-a 4-3 DE/3-4 OLB. Hard telling not knowing. His value on our roster is as an interior pass rusher, and that’s his biggest question mark. Not a good sign. Think Kaufusi could be a real good DE for the right team. That team is not the Seahawks.

Hey Rob I’m curious to hear your thoughts on Carl Nassib. To me he’s a very similar player to Kaufusi – tall, long arms and average athlete. On tape he’s remarkably consistent in a way that Kaufusi is not – his understanding and use of leverage. Nassib consistently maintains a low pad level and as such he takes advantage of his length as opposed to it being a liability. Anyways probably not a player on Seattle’s radar but useful to watch and compare to Kaufusi.

Rob there are 3 DTs I really like in the Rd 2-3 range. Chris Jones, Willie Henry, Javon Hargraves.

Are any of these guys a good fit scheme wise for what the Hawks like to do? which would be the best fit in your opinion?

I kid of see Jones as a Clinton Macdonald and Hargraves more of a Jordan Hill 3 Tech with Henry kind of in between. I just wanted to get your opinion as you have a great read on scheme for the Hawks and tendencies.

Henry is underrated for the DE/DT. His technique is an issue at times, dips his head a bit too much and leans. When he stands up and uses his arms properly he can be really effective. He’s also very stout working inside. He’s close to Frank Clark too. For me he’s a second round pick.

Javon Hargrave is difficult to assess because of the competition but athletically he’s interesting. He’s a pure three-technique though in an orthodox 4-3 so he’s limited schematically.

Chris Jones has nice size and upside but he’s a 5-star body with a 2-star brain. Just not pissed off for greatness, as we say.

I know you’ve been banging the drum for Jones and I don’t disagree. But he’s going in the same ~30-50 range as a few other prospects we’ve linked to SEA, like Bullard, Coleman, and maybe even McGovern. Not sure I see the value at that point, especially with guys like Hargraves and Henry available later.

The more I look into Hargraves, the more I like him and think he has a future in the NFL. He’s quick, active, built well for a DT with a lot of sand in his pants. Yeah he has short arms, blah, blah blah. Some team will take him and be the better for it. I wouldn’t be upset if they took him at 97. I’d be ecstatic if he lasts to 124.

Javon Hargrave looks like a poor man’s Aaron Donald. In fact about the only thing separating Hargrave from Donald is the agility tests (Donald is elite, Hargrave is not). Hargrave actually bests Donald in the vertical jump by 2.5 inches despite outweighing him by 25 lbs.

If I’m looking for a hybrid DE/DT Hargrave is high on my list, as is any other player in the 270 – 300 lb range who tests above to well above average in the jumps. The list there is slim. Of all the players I’ve looked at so far only Tapper, Hargrave, Bullard and Henry really tick those boxes. I’ll keep digging.

Yeah go ahead and laugh all you want, but unlike Red Bryant, Javon Hargrave would actually offer something in the pass rush department. At any rate I’m not sure Pete is married anymore to the 4-3 Under concept with the 300+ lb 5-tech, but if he were there’s no reason Hargrave couldn’t man it.

Also you’re missing the larger point, which is that Pete and John are looking for disruptive, explosive (tests well in the jumps, 10 yard split, etc)pass rushers. Inside/outside doesn’t matter that much.

Just wanted to say thanks to Rob for his daily insight!
I know it is extremely unlikely that the Hawks trade up in the 1st, but packaging their 1 & 2 would likely get them into the mid-1st. Jack Conklin would look great at RT and seems like he could swing over to OG if needed. He’s a tough, former walk-on that seems to have Cable written all over him.

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